If a jug is already full of anything, nothing can be poured into it.

Neither can Christ be seen in us if we are full of ourselves. That is why Romans 12:1 says: Therefore, I urge you, in view of GOD's mercy, to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to GOD which is your reasonable service.

When we lay down our lives as a sacrifice( giving up our rights and plans and let HIM lead us in where we go, what we say and what we do) then HE will be seen.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us" (II Cor. 4:6,7).

Just as GOD said, "Let there be light." and there was light, in the same way when we allow HIM free reign to shine in our hearts others will HIM through us.

But the choice is ours. Will we lay down our own thoughts and our own ways and acknowledge/ ask/ talk to HIM about everything? HE is waiting to fill us.

I am an earthen vessel, just a little pot of clay

without contents I am worthless, unused, inane I lay

Till the tender Master Potter fills HIS vessel from above

with the living flowing water of HIS great eternal love

No longer am I worthless, nor unused, inane do lie

Now there is water for the thirsty. Their needs HE does supply

hugs
Sharon

up a tree

My granddaughter laughed as she easily scrambled up the tree grabbing one branch after another. But when I noticed how high she was perched on a limb, with that saucy look on her face just like those squirrels that tease the dogs next door, I panicked.
"Get down here now!", I shouted. Kaylee turned to look at me and her laughter stopped when she looked down and saw how far down below her the ground was. Fear came over her face and she screamed. Uncle John heard and came running. As soon as he got to the tree he began the ascent. Once she saw him and heard his gentle voice coaxing her to come to him, the fear on her face evaporated, and was instantly replaced with relief.

Like Kaylee did in that tree so many years ago, many feel alone and without hope today. They are focused upon what is happening all around them, rather than thinking about the power of GOD, and HIS promises.

What the enemy intends for evil, GOD intends for good. HE will use our struggles/troubles to accomplish HIS work and good purposes. Genesis 50:20

We need to deliberately take our eyes off our situation, turn to look into His Word, & what He declares about the very situations which seem to be beating us down.

HE is achieving for us through each problem; each situation is temporary but what HE is achieving will last forever 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

We don't have to carry our burdens, we can come drop them at HIS feet by taking each thought to the One Who can handle them all. 2 Corinthians 10:5 Matthew 11:28-30

So just like Kaylee looked to Uncle and found hope and courage, so turn your eyes upon JESUS and HIS promises. HE will never leave you nor forsake you.

hugs

Sharon

taking the stairs one step at a time

A baby coos, then crawls, then walks and then runs.... going from level to level to level.. like you might climb up one stair at a time. It amazes me that in our Christian walk we expect to go from birth to running without the in between steps.

I have been a Christian a long, long time and still GOD will show me things wrong i was not aware of. These things HE wants me to hand to HIM. At times I wondered how could GOD have been using me if this was there all this time?

I have learned that like a baby, GOD views me right with HIM as I am not in deliberate known sin. HE doesn't expect a kindergartener to do geometry.

I find it amazing that GOD can fill and use me and then show me something that was there all the time that was wrong. Then if I turn it over to HIM, HE changes me and then fills and uses me and then shows me something that was there all along that is wrong. Again if I turn it over to HIM HE cleanses and changes me and on and on the cycle.

II Corinthians 3:18 and the HOLY SPIRIT changes is into JESUS' likeness from glory to glory.

So is not being perfect but living up to that which we know that counts for power.

Philippians 3: 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

hugs
Sharon

Matthew 28: 1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for JESUS, who was crucified. 6 HE isn’t here! HE is risen from the dead, just as HE said

Luke 24:34 says, “The LORD is risen indeed!

I have heard that the early church use to greet one another with those words.
One would say, “HE is risen!”
Then another would answer with, “HE is risen indeed!”

What an amazing truth. It is reality, JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the living GOD is alive today sitting at the right had side of GOD the FATHER interceding for us.


As the song goes: Because HE lives, I can face tomorrow, because HE lives all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future and life is worth the living just because HE lives

Way back when, GOD and the prophet Jeremiah were talking and something very interesting was said I believe it true and applicable for us today.

(Jeremiah was speaking) Your words were found and I ate them and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; Jeremiah 15:16

Jeremiah here declared that he had studied GOD’s word and delighted in it. Because Jeremiah knew GOD’s word well, the LORD a little later could say to him:
Therefore, thus says the LORD,"…if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman.” Jeremiah 15:19

Strange words? Not really. When people, even song writers, convey what they understand the Word of GOD to say there is sometimes a mixture of truth with error. Many, many teach error innocently because they are not aware of the truth. As JESUS told the Sadducees, it is because they do not know the scriptures. And none of us are there yet… we still know in part. But we must stand up a declare that which we do know.

We are to listen and as GOD told Jeremiah, extract truth (don’t throw away the baby with the bath water) from what is worthless (error). You can do that best if you know GOD’s word so take time to read it1

Yesterday, I spoke of an error in an old beloved (by me) hymn. Stating that JESUS was not in the grave on Saturday. But that same song holds much amazing and exciting truth. Just listen and let the Spirit stir you with that truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ErLd-I600o

hugs
Sharon

Was JESUS really in the tomb on Saturday?

I love the old Resurrection hymns. A line from one came to mind as I sat down to write this morning. “Down in the grave HE lay, JESUS my Savior. Waiting another day, JESUS my LORD”

But was HE? Was JESUS really waiting in the tomb on Saturday?

I don’t think so. I believe Scripture shows us that although the rock still sealed the tomb that JESUS HIMSELF was elsewhere.

Ephesians 4: 8 "When HE ascended on high, HE led captives in HIS train and gave gifts to men." 9(What does "HE ascended" mean except that HE also descended to the lower, earthly regions (Hades)? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

JESUS tells us about this place HE descended to in Luke 16. It was a place with an upper chamber of rest and peace (called Paradise) and a lower chamber of heat and torture (Hades)

Why do I think HE was there before Resurrection Sunday?

Because on the cross, JESUS promised the thief who believed, “today (Friday, the day of the crucifixion) you will be with ME in Paradise.” Therefore, JESUS had to leave the tomb and descend to the center of the earth Friday afternoon. For HE is not a man that HE should lie.

What happened when JESUS descended to the center of the earth? HE got the keys of death and hell (Revelations 1:18) and led out the people in upper Hades (Paradise).

In the days of Paul, we are told that Paradise was no longer the upper chamber of Hell in the center of the earth, but rather in the highest (3rd or upper level) of heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:2 .. caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to Paradise.

In fact, when John was writing Revelations Paradise was already in GOD’s presence. (Revelation 2:7)

When did it happen? When JESUS entered into the heavens with HIS blood sacrifice HE brought with HIM all who were in Paradise and at that time Paradise was relocated to the 3rd heaven.

So Saturday was not a day of repose for JESUS but a very active one. What a Savior we have who ever lives to intercede for us.

Hugs
Sharon

Who Killed JESUS?

Back in the late 80s, I began working on staff at Camp Elim. All new staff who were going to work at camp over the summer had to come for a training weekend (it is now a training week) cause you must know how to work in each area such as counseling, dining room, kitchen, maintenance,ect. for Dan- the director- wanted all of us able to jump in and help if there was an unexpected need come up. Most of the ones at the training weekend were teens and college students and then a few of us older ones. We participated in chapels and had to learn the songs. Most were fun and lively but with a message. Still others were not so lively.

As I read the words to Who Killed Jesus that weekend, I burst in tears as I sang. That song has stayed with me and I want to share it with you... just wished that I could have found a video of it so you could here the music. But here are the words. Especially note the words of the last stanza and last chorus.

Who killed JESUS many years ago? Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did HE have to die? What is the reason why? Who killed JESUS I would like to know?

Was it Hebrew children proud of who they were?
Shouting "CRUCIFY HIM" at their King.
Trading their Messiah for a common thief?

Turning down the kingdom HE could bring.

Who killed JESUS many years ago? Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did HE have to die? What is the reason why? Who killed JESUS I would like to know?

Was it Pontius Pilate, he was governor
Trying to decide that case that day
When he found the Savior had no fault HIS own
Was he guilty when he turned away?

Who killed JESUS many years ago? Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did HE have to die? What is the reason why? Who killed JESUS I would like to know?

Was it Roman soldiers with their tools of war
Driving nails through hands that did no wrong
Mocking and abusing, crowning HIM with thorns
Oh the evidence is very strong!

Who killed JESUS many years ago? Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did HE have to die? What is the reason why? Who killed JESUS I would like to know?

When I think of JESUS and the way HE died
How upon HIM all my sins were lain
All the other people fade away from view
It for me the sacrifice was made.

I no longer wonder any more. I have found what I was searching for
My sin demanded hell, on HIM the judgement fell

It is plain to see, that it was really me.

washing feet?

Once at an all night prayer meeting, I had this crazy urge to go to one of the leaders, to remove his shoes and socks and to wash his feet. It sounded crazy, but at the same time I knew I was suppose to do it.

1st I had to find a container to hold the water – I found a small empty waste basket- and then something to dry his feet with- there were some paper napkins on a table. I was a hesitant, more than a little uneasy but forced myself to step out and wash his feet for I knew I was suppose to do it.

You have had times like that haven’t you? Times when you just knew you were suppose to do something. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that GOD has prepared specific things for us to do

Years later, GOD confirmed HE had nudged me that night when I was reading an article in a magazine by that leader. He spoke of what had happened (not mentioning names) and how he fought within himself to let me do it. (Something I had not been aware of) But he went on to say that GOD used it to speak to him about his need to humble himself and put away his pride. Our simple obedience to those nudges from GOD can have a ripple effect of motivating others to be obedient.

John 13:1-17 Before the Passover celebration, JESUS knew HIS time had come to leave this world and returned to HIS FATHER in heaven. This would be his last evening with all HIS disciples on earth and it was time for supper. HE wanted to show HIS disciples the full extent of HIS love.

Knowing that the FATHER had given HIM authority over everything and that HE had come from GOD and was going back to GOD, HE got up from the table took off HIS robe, wrapped a towel around HIS waist and poured water into a basin. Then HE began to wash HIS disciples feet and wipe them with the towel HE had around HIM. (It was the job of the lowest slave to wash the feet of guests.)

When HE got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Why are YOU going to wash my feet?”
JESUS replied, “You don’t understand now, why I am doing it; someday you will.”
“NO!” Peter protested, “YOU will never wash my feet!”
JESUS replied, ‘But if I don’t wash you, you won’t belong to ME”
“Then wash all of me, my hands and head as well!” Peter exclaimed.
JESUS responded, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet to be entirely clean. And you are clean (cleansed by the word I have spoken to you John 15:3) but that isn’t true of everyone here.” JESUS meant Judas.

After JESUS washed their feet HE said, “You call me Teacher and LORD and you are right because it is true. Since I, your Teacher have washed your feet, you ought to humble yourselves and wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow.. you know these things- now do them! That is a path of blessing

What did JESUS do that day? HE met the basic need of washing the hot and dirty feet of men who walked with HIM.

How can you meet the needs of those you walk with to refresh and encourage them? Go with the nudges, GOD places in your heart. Do that which you know you should do even when it doesn’t make sense.